Arcadia's Ignoble Knight: Dark Elf Arc

Chapter 11

The MAFT carrying Erica and Derek stopped in front of Dorehan Tower. Derek held the door open for Erica as she stepped outside and gazed at the massive tower that looked as if it was piercing the heavens. Two people were waiting for her when she emerged. They were a pair of half-elf children. One of them was a young man in his early twenties, but the other was an adorable little girl not much older than six. As soon as the little half-elf girl saw her, a smile lit her face and she broke into a run.

"Aunt Erica!"

"Tiffa..."

Erica knelt down as the girl ran into her arms, holding her close and closing her eyes. Despite having already cried, had sex, and been held, her emotions became raw upon seeing this child. Images of Kristal flashed through her mind. Her body shuddered. She held Tiffa closer as though afraid that letting go would cause her to disappear. Only after reassuring herself did she let go and place her hands on the half-elf child's shoulders.

"Were you a good girl while I was gone?" she asked with a smile.

"Um, Tiffa was a very good girl!" Tiffa chirped with a bright grin.

Erica smiled as she stroked Tiffa's hair. "That's a good girl."

She chanted a quick Aria under her breath, felt Ryujin enter her body and strengthen her limbs, and then lifted the girl into her arms as though she weighed a feather. Tiffa giggled as she wrapped her arms around Erica's neck. Meanwhile, as Derek walked up to them, she cast her gaze at Collafloore, who stood by the door.

"Has anything happened while I was away?" she asked.

"No." Collafloore shook his head. "Nothing happened. It's the same as always."

"Hmm... good."

They entered Dorehan Tower and began climbing the stairs. This was the one part about living in this tower that she did not like. Since this tower had over a hundred stories, it also had a lot of stairs, and it had been built before the time of magical technology heralded by Karen Hildegard. That meant it had no elevator, and they couldn't install one since it wouldn't be cost effective, meaning they had to climb the stairs.

"Derek, I want you to set up the meeting mirror," Erica said. "I would like to speak with Sylvia."

"At once," Derek said.

It took a few hours to set up the meeting mirror, which was a mirror that connected to another mirror with the matching rune inscription. She didn't know how they worked. However, the mirror was located in her bedroom.

While waiting for Derek to set up the mirror, Erica played with Tiffa. The child's presence soothed her frayed and overly emotional nerves. Just being in her presence felt therapeutic.

While she did that, Derek went into her closet and brought out a large mirror. Intricately carved with stately designs swirling around it, this mirror had runes carved onto the surface that represented the two messenger spirits, Hermes and Iris. It was made of varnished wood that gleamed brightly, encasing the mirror. Dragon claw feet kept it steady.

"It's ready, Lady Erica," Derek announced after he set the mirror on the far side of the room.

Erica was sitting cross-legged on the floor as she played a game of Match Up with Tiffa. It was a card game in which all of the cards were laid face down on a surface and two cards were flipped face up over each turn. The object of the game was to turn over pairs of matching cards. She was using this game as a means of helping Tiffa with her memorization. Also, it was just cute to see the way the little half-elf girl glared at the cards with a red face as she tried to remember which card was which.

"Good." Erica stood up and smiled down at Tifa. "I have to speak with someone right now. Keep playing your card game and I'll come play with you again in a bit, okay?"

"Okay." Tiffa nodded even as she continued glaring at the cards.

Erica stood before the mirror and chanted an Aria. "Inari Okami, I request that you bless me with a messenger swift and sure. Open the portal connect me to the other side."

A feeling much like static made her skin tingle as she felt Inari enter her body. There was a slight sense of disgust coming from within her, but the goddess of fertility did as requested and injected her vast power into the mirror, activating it and connecting with the mirror on the other side.

What was revealed on the other side of the mirror was an empty room, but as if merely by being activated, it alerted someone to her call, the door opened fifteen minutes later and in walked a woman. Silver hair that went down to her backside was complemented by a completely silver dress. Even though her outfit was modest and without a hint of indecency, her sizable bust and womanly figure made even modest outfits look sinful. Sylvia de Floresca might not be as hot as her, but Erica could still appreciate the other woman's beauty.

"I did not expect you to call in like this," Sylvia said.

Erica shrugged. "I didn't expect to call in like this."

"Have you finished your investigation of the Avrondale Mines?"

"I have." Erica took a deep breath before speaking. "Everyone living in the mine is dead. The dwarves are gone. I do not know where they went."

"I see."

Erica studied Sylvia, whose expression was completely blank, revealing no outward emotion. Of course, if you asked her, Sylvia didn't even know what emotions were. This woman was a cold fish.

"Sylvia, where did you get this information from? Who told you about the Avrondale Mine being attacked by dwarves?" Erica pressed.

"The information was given to us by Duke Callisto De'Falco Genitore. He came to us in a panic and said that the dwarves had rebelled at the Avrondale Mines. He apparently just barely managed to escape with his life."

"Is that so?" Erica murmured.

"Have you anything else to report?" asked Sylvia.

"No." Erica shook her head. "I have nothing else."

"Very well. You'll have to excuse me now. The Avrondale Mines weren't the only mines that were attacked by a force of dwarves."

The woman cut the meeting short. Erica frowned when the mirror became just a mirror again. She thought about what Sylvia said before leaving. Several other dwarves had rebelled against the humans. She wondered if what happened to those mines was the same as the Avrondale Mines. If so, then it all seemed far too coincidental to be mere coincidence.

"Derek?" she called.

"Yes, My Lady?" asked Derek, standing just off to the side so he wouldn't interrupt the meeting that just ended.

"I want you to find out where Duke Callisto lives," Erica ordered. "Then I want you to buy tickets for us to travel there."

Derek hesitated a moment before asking, "Do you suspect he might be involved in what happened at the Avrondale Mines."

"There isn't any real evidence to point toward his involvement." Erica narrowed her eyes. "However, my gut is telling me that he's responsible for the dwarves rebelling, and so I believe it is time I paid him a visit."

***

Erica is on the warpath. Caspian and Elincia are traveling to Dorumhold. Things are in motion. While nothing has happened yet, it is only a matter of time before shit hits the fan. I hope my characters are ready for that.

Please let me know what you think. Don't be afraid to let me know if you find any grammar mistakes. This is unedited, so I'm sure there are some.

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